Two incidents in last week's All-Star Game have created a lot of buzz leading into Sunday's showdown between the Heat and Lakers.
First, Dwyane Wade broke Kobe Bryant's nose with a hard foul. Then, with the game on the line in the final seconds, Kobe implored LeBron James to try to take him 1-on-1 … and LeBron passed up the opportunity.
Now, with those three players about to meet again at Staples Center, people wonder: Will Kobe or one of the other Lakers retaliate against Wade? Does LeBron want to prove anything against Kobe? Is his confidence shaken?
The media are having fun with those storylines, but I've got to tell you something: None of that stuff is going to matter.
When you look closely at Wade's foul on Kobe, it's very clear that Dwyane wasn't trying to hurt him. Was it a hard foul? Yes. Was it unusual in an All-Star Game? Of course. But he was just trying to grab Kobe from behind and accidentally caught him on the bridge of the nose. There was no intent to injure. It wasn't a dirty play. Both guys know that.
I don't expect any retaliation, just a really hard-fought game, like Kobe and Wade always play.
The only possible issue is Kobe's health. He also suffered a concussion on the play and he's playing with a protective mask, which is difficult. But nothing's going to slow down this guy. He just has an iron will. I think it has to inspire his teammates to see Kobe play through injuries like this. When you see him play so hard and so well when he's all banged up, how can you not play hard yourself?
The LeBron thing is also getting overblown. I watched that sequence several times and I think it was just good-natured ribbing from Kobe. It's been talked about so much whether LeBron steps it up in the big moments, and what happened in the Finals last year didn't help him.
But he's such a great player and he's won so many games with last-second shots or big plays at the end. All that matters is whether he still has confidence in those situations. I think he does.
What the Lakers really need to worry about is how well LeBron and the Heat are playing. Right now, LeBron is playing the best all-around basketball of any player in the league and Miami is the best team. The Heat won nine games in a row, all by double digits before Friday's loss to the Jazz. I think the Heat have arguably the best defense in the league – not statistically, but just in the pressure they apply. And they're first in the league in points (103.7), field-goal percentage (48.7) and 3-point percentage (40.2).
Their offense has changed since last season. They don't settle for 3-pointers any more. LeBron and Wade are so physically gifted, they can get a 3-pointer any time. LeBron shot 279 of them last season; Wade shot 206. It was the easiest shot for them to take, but they didn't shoot a high percentage.
Now LeBron only tries one or two 3-pointers a game and Wade hardly shoots them at all – he's only made two! But Wade's doing what he does best: attacking the basket. And LeBron has just been a juggernaut. His post game is so much better now. What people don't understand is that LeBron's a student of the game. He has an admiration for guys who play fundamental basketball. You can see it more in his game now. He's so fundamentally sound and just brutally efficient.
Those two guys are playing much better together now, too. They know each other better. They know what to do, what to expect from each other. Their synergy has made Miami something special. Most nights the Heat are head and shoulders above the other team. How do you match up with those guys when they're on top of their game? You can't.
And it's not like they're alone. Chris Bosh is playing well and doing what they need him to do. Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole have really solidified the point guard position. Mike Miller is leading the league in 3-point percentage. Shane Battier's been a great addition for them off the bench.
But I think the guy who may be making the biggest difference is Udonis Haslem. He missed almost all of last season with a foot injury and they really missed him. He's a terrific rebounder, an excellent defender and a good midrange shooter. He's a glue guy. He does all the dirty work you need to do to win.
If the Heat have a weakness, it's their size inside. Bosh isn't very big. Haslem isn't very tall. Joel Anthony is playing better this season and really knows his role, but he's undersized for a center. That's where the Lakers have an advantage, maybe their only real advantage in this game.
I think Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are the best inside tandem in the league. No one else has two 7-footers as talented as they are. That's why LA's best chance is to slow the tempo and make it a playoff-style, halfcourt game. Get the ball to the big guys, avoid turnovers and keep the Heat from running.
It's going to be a battle of styles. Miami wants to get out and run off turnovers and missed shots. The Lakers don't get easy baskets in transition, so they want to slow it down and go inside-out on offense with the big guys getting a lot of touches.
The Lakers do need to shoot the ball well from outside. They're 29th in the league in 3-point shooting. And they need to get more production from their bench. They're last in bench scoring. If those trends continue, it's going to be a long Sunday afternoon for LA.
I don't think the Lakers can blow out the Heat, but the Heat can blow out the Lakers.
It's a statement game for Miami. If the Heat can come into a fabled place and play great basketball, that will really show how dominant they can be. The Lakers have only lost twice at home all season, so it would be an impressive win for the Heat.
If the Lakers win, it would do a lot for their confidence and people's perception of the team. If they lose, the trade rumors will start popping up even more. All of that stuff will escalate. So even though it's just one game, it's bigger than most games. The losing team is going to face a lot of questions.
But no matter what happens, it won't have anything to do with what happened in Orlando a week ago.
